MEPs Anne Sander, Siôn Simon and Emilian Pavel, members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL), visited Cedefop on 12 and 13 February and had a fruitful exchange of views with management and staff.

In July 2017 a graduation ceremony was organised by Bruxelles Formation (public adult training provider in the Brussels Region) and 78 trainees were given their credentials, as official recognition of skills acquired through successfully completed training. More than 700 trainees are hosted every year in largely practical training schemes of two to eight months.

Many EU companies complain about skilled labour shortage and unqualified job applicants. However, Member States have mainly focused to date on further developing initial vocational education and training. Higher VET has played a subordinate role in education policy, reflecting policy heterogeneity.

At the beginning of 2016 the Federal Act on the national qualifications framework entered into force in Austria. Following establishment of the bodies specified in the Act, qualification providers have been able to submit requests for NQF allocation since the beginning of 2017. Such requests can be submitted both for formal qualifications (with a legal basis) and so-called non-formal qualifications (those not regulated by law but for which a non-state education establishment is responsible).

Development of work-based learning (WBL) in initial vocational education (VET) is a national policy priority. It started in 2013/14 as a pilot project addressing the incomplete legal framework, insufficient offer in traditionally school-based VET, and low involvement of employers, who, nevertheless, demanded improved VET quality and labour market relevance.

Employer interest in providing in-company training (work placements) for vocational education (VET) learners has increased from 33% in 2014 to 39% in 2017, according to an Employers’ Confederation of Latvia (LDDK) survey.

High professional technical programmes (cursos técnicos superiores profissionais, CTSP) are higher education short-term training programmes (Portaria –Ordinance- nº 782/2009, de 23 de Julho). They offer students the basis for developing professional or vocational activity, and may also lead to higher level studies. These programmes have the advantage of offering learners the possibility of entering the labour market immediately after graduation, which leads to an increase in their employability.

The President of the Portuguese Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, participated in the 7th Congress of the National Association of Professional Schools (ANESPO) in July 2017. He committed Portugal to making increased investment in vocational education, raising the number of VET learners and reducing early school leaving rates.

Validation of informal and non-formal learning (VINFL) is a major asset in promoting lifelong learning and supporting access to learning for those with no qualifications from formal education. VINFL in Malta is regulated by Subsidiary Legislation 327.432, Validation of Non-Formal and Informal Learning regulations of September 2012.

The Night of trades are interactive events organised in 2016 and 2017 as part of initiatives aiming to improve the attractiveness of VET and bring education closer to the business world, sectors and trades

The Certification system for training providers is regulated by Portaria (Ordinance) nº 851/2010 that was amended by Portaria (Ordinance) nº 208/2013. The General Directorate for Employment and Industrial Relations (DGERT) of the Ministry of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security, has the responsibility for quality certification of training providers.

In October 2017, the WorldSkills Event took place in Abu Dhabi. It is held every two years and is the biggest vocational education and professional qualification competition in the world. Portugal was represented by 17 highly qualified young learners.

A unified electronic system is in place for admitting learners in programmes offered by universities, colleges and VET schools. Between 2010 and 2017, the system was exclusively used in higher education; vocational training institutions conducted the admission procedure on their own, in VET schools.

The reform of the labour market (via the Jobs Act) in Italy redefined, through Legislative Decree 150/2015, the laws on employment services and active labour market policies, as well as initiatives promoting employment and employability.